I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I’m one of those people who enjoys musicals. One of my favorites is Ragtime, and one of its songs says: “Your sword can be a sermon or the power of the pen… Go out and tell your story, let it echo far and wide, make them hear you.” That is, more or less, the job of a Communications Director, and it’s one of our organization’s top priorities: Promoting understanding.
People need to know about the experience of being nonreligious in America — especially now, as Christian nationalists are putting Bibles in every classroom and the Ten Commandments in every school; as fundamental rights are being stripped from millions; as climate science is being denied.
It was our Board Chair, Jen Scott, who described our strategic plan as “more than words on a page.” That really struck a chord with me. After all, putting words on a page is a substantial part of my job. But it’s an ever-present reminder that the words we use have tremendous power. They can change things — whether for good, for ill, for forever.
Nobody can deny the lasting impact of the Supreme Court’s opinions. We know disinformation on social media can swing elections. A speech can change the course of history. Words can persuade, polarize, inspire hope, or incite violence.
In the present political climate — especially the hostility we atheists face from Christian nationalist politicians and even, sadly, neighbors and family members — the idea of promoting understanding can feel daunting or even impossible. But history shows us it’s at these times this work is the most vital.
We have to be fact-checkers because truth matters. We need to tell the stories of our community because our experiences as atheists, and the struggles we face, are both unique to us and directly relatable to our fellow Americans.
Those differences, and our commonalities, remind us all that diversity is a strength, not something to fear or suppress. Finding and sharing our common values is a repudiation of those who would legislate otherwise and stands as a testament to the vibrant and resilient community we’re building, challenging the assumptions and prejudices of those who say there is no community without church.
In the coming year and beyond, we’re going to tell more of your stories and increase the reach of American Atheists. From revamping our website to using new media, from leading educational campaigns to modernizing our resource library, I’m excited to elevate the voices of atheists in America and help reaffirm American Atheists’ place as one of the nation’s leaders in the fight for the absolute separation of religion and government.
So, today, I’m asking you to please chip in a special one-time gift of $25, $50, or $100 in support of our work promoting understanding and building a better future for atheists and nonreligious Americans.
Make them hear you,
Melina Cohen
Communications Director
American Atheists is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, nonprofit educational organization that relies on the support of members like you. Contributions are tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax ID Number is 74-2466507 and our Combined Federal Campaign number is 52217.
American Atheists
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